Formation tester



A ril 11, 1950 'B. R/M KINLEY FORMATION TESTER Filed Dec. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T w n w M m w. :R f w Ia w WWW .1 .IJIIIIII N mwmmmmmmm a 3 d A m% WM 1PM 0 2 lixis W I I W- H E E.

Patented Apr. 11, 1950 YUNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a formation tester and is an improvement on the device of my Patent No. 2,197,078, dated April 16, 1940, entitled Formation tester.

With the improvement herein disclosed, it is possible to secure not only a sample of the fluid in an oil or gas well but also to determine the pressure within the hole or casing, both in the area in which the sample is taken and below the point of sampling.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel means to simultaneously control ports to permit sampling of a given area within the casing or formation, and to permit the recording of pressure at one or more points adjacent the area from which a sample is taken.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel valve means operating in conjunction with a sampler valve which permits fluid to pass around wall engaging cups, both when the tool is going into the hole and when it is coming out of the hole.

Another object of my invention is to provide one or more pressure recording means on the tool; the pressure recording means recording pressures above the wall sealing cups and also below these cups.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my casing and formation tester, particularly the upper portion of the same.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the formation tester, and with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 3 is a quarter sectional view control portion of the tester.

Figure 4 is a quarter sectional view of the sampling construction and the control therefor.

Figure 5 is a quarter sectional view of the pres sure control valve. Y

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I will first describe the sampler portion of the formation tester which is of the same construction as the tester disclosed in my previous Patent No. 2,197,078, and which operates simultaneously with the pressure recording portion of my tester.

The casing and formation tester l consists of the assembly of a control head 2, a packer 3, and a ported intake sleeve 4. The sub 5 is provided of the screw collars l6, and springs the tester.

with a, threaded pin 6 onto which the drill pipe is threaded, and the drill pipe is not shown since its construction is usual and well known. I

The sub 5 extends into the sleeve '7 through a packing gland 8. Coarse threads 9 are cut on the inside of the sleeve 1, and the sub 5 is provided with coarse exterior threads l0, which mesh with the threads 9. Thus, it will be evident that if the sleeve 1 is held stationary, rotation of the sub 5 will cause this sub to move longitudinally within the sleeve. is also centrally drilled, so that gas and oil can pass upwardly therethrough, for a purpose which will be subsequently described.

A pipe section II screws into the lower end of the sleeve 1, or is otherwise fixedly attached thereto. This pipe extends longitudinally through the packer assembly and screws into the top of the ported shoe 4, as shown in Figure 4. A sample tube l2 screws into the lower end of the sub 5, and extends downwardly through the pipe i I, and the lower end thereof is slidably fitted in the shoe 4, as will be further described. The sample tube l2 slides in the pipe H when the control head 2 is operated.

The packer assembly 3 of the type shown in Patent No. 2,005,955 consists of a packer l3 and slips [4 slidably mounted below the packer, or as here shown the slips are slidably mounted in the lower metal part of the packer. These slips are adapted to engage either the casing or the formation, wherever the tester may be run.

Spring fingers l5 engage the wall of the bore, and these fingers are mounted on collars it. One of the collars is releasably attached to the pipe I I, in a manner usual and well known in the art.

When the entire tester is lowered into a well and when the collars I6 are released the springs l5, engaging the wall of the well will cause the 5, to slide upwardly on The upper collar will now engage the slips l4 causing them to be pushed outwardly on their tapered seats to engage the wall of the bore; thus the entire packer assembly is fixed within the bore and is non-rotatably held, as is more specifically described in my prior patent above stated.

The pipe H is also held against rotation, and the sleeve 1 is thus also held stationary, and consequently rotation of the drill pipe will cause the sub 5 to be screwed into the sleeve '1 and cause the sub to move downwardly in the sleeve. The sample tube I2 is thus pushed downwardly into the shoe 4. This shoe consists of an outer cylindrical body l9, below which a pipe 26 extends.

The sub 5 is hollow and the pin 6 A pair of spaced packings 2| and 22 are mounted within the body I9 and fit closely around the sample tube |2. A plurality of ports 23 extend through the wall of the tube I2, and when the tool is run into the bore these ports are closed by the packing 2|, as shown in Figure 4. A plurality of holes 24 extend through the wall of the body l9, and these holes are positioned between the packings 2| and 22. When the sub is rotated by the drill pipe, as previously described, the sample tube 1 I2 will be pushed downwardly into th shoe 4 until the ports 23 pass below the packing 2|, whereupon oil and gas and the like within the bore will pass into the holes 24, thence through the ports 23 into the sampling tube l2.

Continued rotation of the drill pipe will cause the tube |2 to be pushed downwardly a further amount within the shoe 4 until the ports 23 are closed by the packing 22, and the sample within the tube |2 will be trapped and can be raised to the surface. It will thus be evident that rotation of the drill pipe in one direction will cause the ports 23 to move downwardly into position to receive a sample and will then continue to move downwardly until the sampling tube is again sealed with the material trapped therein.

The pipe extends below the intake sleeve 4 to a valve control assembly 25. This assembly consists of pipe section 26, through which a plurality of ports 21 extend. A piston valve 28 is slidably mounted in the pipe section 26 and is attached to the lower end of the sampling tube l2. Thus as the ports 23 are moved from sealed to open position, the valve 28 will be moved from the top of the pipe section 26 to the bottom thereof. In Figures 2 and 5, I have shown this sleeve valve in the bottom position, which is the position of the valve when the tool is being removed from the well. When the tool is going into the well, the valve will be above the ports 21. The valve 28 may be provided with packing rings 29 so that it will seal more effectively against the walls of the pipe section 26.

A plurality of holes 30 extend longitudinally through the sleeve valve 28, and the purpose of these holes will be further described. A tail pipe 3| extends below the pipe section 25, and is affixed thereto. On the lower end of the tail pipe 3|, I provide superimposed pressure recorders 32 and 33. These pressure recorders or bombs, as they are known in the art, are usual and well known. The bottom pressure recorder 33 is provided with a perforated plug 34, through which pressures can be recorded at the lower end of the tool. A plurality of spaced cups 35 are mounted on the tail pipe 3|, and are arranged above the pressure recorder 32. A pressure tube 36 extends through the side wall of the tail pipe 3| above the cups 35, and then extends downwardly within the tail pipe and into the top pressure recorder 32. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable pressures to be recorded above the cups 35. A ring of fluid by-pass holes 31 extend through the tail pipe 3| below the cups 35.

When the tool is being run into the hole, the cups 35 are dragging against the wall of the bore, and it is necessary that fluid be by-passed around these cups so that the tool can be lowered into the well. Fluid thus flows through the holes 31, thence upwardly in the tail pipe 3|, and out through the holes 21. It is to be remembered that the valve 28 is above tool is being lowered. When the tool is raised, it is necessary to by-pass fluid from above the 4 cups 35 to below them, and this is accomplished in the holes 21 when the.

the following manner. Fluid passes through the holes 21, thence through the holes 30 in the valve 28, then down through the tail pipe 3|, and out through the holes 31. When the sampling ports 23 are open, that is when these ports are open to the ports 24, the sleeve valve 23 will be over the holes 21 sealing the same. When the parts are thus positioned there can be no equalization of pressure above and below the cups 35. Consequently during the time that a sample of the fluid in the well is being taken, I simultaneously record the pressure of the fluid above the cups 35 on the pressure recorder 32, and also record the pressure below the cups 35 on the pressure recorder 33.

The recorders 32 and 33 can be of the type which record pressures on a tape, although they can also be of the type in which a needle is held at the maximum pressure, each of which types are usual and well known.

As soon as the sample has been taken, and the pressures have been recorded, both above and be low the cups 35, the sample tube I2 is moved downwardly to seal the ports 23, and to open the ports 21. The tool is then removed from the well so that the sample may be examined, and at the same time the fluid or formation pressures are determined by reading the pressure bombs 32 and 33.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a formation tester including an intake shoe having holes extending through the wall thereof, a sampling tube within the intake shoe. said tube having a fluid intake port therein, said holes and fluid intake port being alignable, threads coupling the sampling tube to a drill pipe, inter-engaging threads on the intake shoe and the tube, imparting longitudinal movement to the tube on rotation of the drill pipe and tube relative to the intake shoe to align the intake port in the tube and said holes, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, said piston valve being mounted on the sampling tube and movable thereby to open and close said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from the pipe section, and communicating therewith, a pressure recorder in the tail pipe, a pressure conduit extending through the wall of the tail pipe and thence downwardly to the pressure recorder, and said tail pipe having fluid by-pass holes therein.

2. In a formation tester including an intake shoe having holes extending through the wall thereof, a sampling tube within the intake shoe, said tube having a fluid intake port therein, said holes and fluid intake port being alignable, threads coupling the sampling tube to a drill pipe, inter-engaging threads on the intake shoe and the tube, imparting longitudinal movement to the tube on rotation of the drill pipe to align the intake port in the tube and said holes, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, said piston valve being mounted on the sampling tube and movable thereby to open and close said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from the pipe section and communicating therewith, a packing cup surrounding the tail pipe and sealingly engaging the'bore hole wall, a pressure recorder in the tail pipe and below the cup, a pressure conduit extending through the wall of the tail pipe above the cup and thence downwardly to the pressure recorder, and said tail pipe having fluid by-pass holes therein, positioned below the cup and communicating with the ports in the pipe section, and a second pressure recorder mounted below the cup and opened to the area below the cup and receiving fluid at bore hole pressure therefrom.

3. A formation tester for bored holes comprising an intake shoe, a packer, and a control head, a pipe attached to the control head and to the intake shoe and connecting the same, said pipe extending through and non-rotatably connected to the packer, a sampling tube extending through the intake shoe and pipe and into the control head, said intake shoe having holes extending through the wall thereof, said sampling tube having openings therein arranged to register with said holes, said control head including a sub rotatably mounted therein, inter-engaging threads on the sub and control head whereby rotation of the sub relative to the control head will impart longitudinal movement to the sampling tube relative to said intake shoe, means securing the sampling tube to the sub, said interengaging threads being in constant engagement, and wall engaging means mounted on said packer whereby the control head is held against rotation in a bored hole, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from and connected to the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, said piston valve being mounted on the sampling tube and moved thereby to open and close said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from the pipe section, a pressure recorder within the tail pip-e, a pressure conduit in the tail pipe extending from the exterior of the tail pipe to the pressure recorder, said tail pipe having fiuid by-pass holes therein.

4. A formation tester for bored holes comprising an intake shoe, a packer, and a control head, a pipe attached to the control head and to the intake shoe and connecting the same, said pipe extending through and non-rotatably connected to the packer, a sampling tube extending through the intake shoe and the pipe and into the control head, said intake shoe having holes extending through the wall thereof, said sampling tube having openings therein arranged to register with said holes, said control head including a sub rotatably mounted therein, interengaging threads on the sub and control head whereby rotation of the sub will impart longitudinal movement to the sub and sampling tube relative to the control head and the intake shoe, means securing the sampling tube to the sub, said inter-engaging threads being in constant engagement, and wall engaging means mounted on said packer whereby the control head is held against rotation in a bored hole, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from and connected to the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, said piston valve being mounted on the sampling tube and moved thereby to open and close said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from and communieating with the'pipe and sealin'gly engaging'the bore hole wall section, a packing cup mounted on the tail pipe, a pressure recorder within'the tail pipe, at pressure conduit in the tail pipe extending from the exterior of the tail pipe above the cup to the pressure recorder, said tail pipe having fluid by-pass holes therein, below the cup, a second pressure recorder mounted in the tail pipe below the cup and having intake ports receiving fluid at bore hole pressure from below the cup.

5. A formation tester for bored holes comprising a control head, a sub rotatably mounted in the control head, wall engaging means attached to the control head, said wall engaging means engaging a bore hole wall tohold the control head against rotation, inter-engaging threads on the sub and control head, whereby rotation of the sub relative to the control head imparts longitudinal movement to said sub, said threads being constantly in engagement, a sampling tube depending from the sub and control head, an intake shoe, said tube extending into the intake shoe, and longitudinally slidable therein, said shoe having holes in the wall thereof and said tube having ports in the wall thereof, said ports and holes being alignable on longitudinal movement of the sub and sampling tube and on rotation of the sub in one direction relative to said intake shoe, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from and connected to the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, means mounting the piston valve on the sampling tube, said piston valve opening and closing said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from and communicating with the pipe section, a pressure recorder within the tail pipe, a pressure conduit in the tail pipe extending through the wall of the tail pipe to the pressure recorder, said tail pipe having fluid by-pass holes therein.

6. A formation tester for bored holes comprising a control head, a sub rotatably mounted in the control head, wall engaging means attached to the control head, said wall engaging means engaging a bore hole wall to hold the control head against rotation, inter-engaging threads on the sub and control head, whereby rotation of the sub relative to the control head imparts longitudinal movement to said sub, said threads being constantly in engagement, a sampling tube depending from the sub and control head, an intake shoe, said tube extending into the intake shoe, and longitudinally slidable therein, said shoe having holes in the wall thereof and said tube having ports in the wall thereof, said ports and holes being alignable on longitudinal movement of the sub and sampling tube and on rotation of the sub in one direction, a valve control assembly comprising a pipe section having ports extending through the wall thereof, said pipe section depending from and connected to the intake shoe, said sampling tube extending into the pipe section, a piston valve slidably mounted in the pipe section, means mounting the piston valve on the sampling tube, said piston valve opening and closing said ports in the pipe section, a tail pipe depending from the pipe section, a packing cup on the tail pipe and sealingly engaging the bore hole wall, a pressure recorder within said tail pipe, a pressure conduit in the tail pipe ex tending through the wall of the tail pipe above the cup and to the pressure recorder, said tail pipe having fluid 'by-pass holes therein below UNITED STATES PATENTS the cup communicating with the ports in the Number Name Date pipe section, and a second pressure r c d r 2,005,955 Renouf June 25, 935 mounted in the tail pipe below the cup and h v- 2,158,569 Bowen May 16, 939 ing intake ports therein, opening to he r 5 2,161,135 Chappen June 939 below Said v- 2,161,233 ONei11 June 6, 1939 BOYD McKmLEY- 2,189,919 Moore Feb. 13, 1940 2,197,078 McKinley Apr. 16, 1940 REFERENCES CITED 2,290,441 McGafley July 21, 1942 The following references are of record in the 10 2,341,832 Verheul et a1 Feb. 15, 1944 file of this patent: 2,379,138 Fitting June 26, 1945 

